In this course we will look at issues of identity from several
perspectives: the identity of literary characters, the identities of
ourselves as readers, even the identity of the 'Great Books'
themselves. In addition to readings from Sophocles, Dante, Cervantes,
Walt Whitman, and Ralph Ellison, students will participate in a
semester long project on what constitutes a classic or iconic work of
literature and, to this end, choose by consensus two additional texts
(be it literature, art, music, cinema, theater, etc.) to 'read' and
discuss in the final weeks of the semester. After all, if these works
are meant to last, aren't we the ones who preserve them?

Syllabi are available to current LSA students. IMPORTANT: These syllabi are provided to give students a general idea about the courses, as offered by LSA departments and programs in prior academic terms. The syllabi do not necessarily reflect the assignments, sequence of course materials, and/or course expectations that the faculty and departments/programs have for these same courses in the current and/or future terms.

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